US4770002A - Transport refrigeration system - Google Patents

Transport refrigeration system Download PDF

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Publication number
US4770002A
US4770002A US07/095,380 US9538087A US4770002A US 4770002 A US4770002 A US 4770002A US 9538087 A US9538087 A US 9538087A US 4770002 A US4770002 A US 4770002A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
blower
refrigeration system
transport refrigeration
driven shaft
evaporator
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
US07/095,380
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Herman H. Viegas
Robert K. Havemann
Bruce E. McClellan
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Thermo King Corp
Original Assignee
Thermo King Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Thermo King Corp filed Critical Thermo King Corp
Priority to US07/095,380 priority Critical patent/US4770002A/en
Assigned to THERMO KING CORPORATION reassignment THERMO KING CORPORATION ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: HAVEMANN, ROBERT K., MC CLELLAN, BRUCE E., VIEGAS, HERMAN H.
Priority to GB8820691A priority patent/GB2209590B/en
Priority to IT8841664A priority patent/IT1225411B/it
Priority to FR8811702A priority patent/FR2620204A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US4770002A publication Critical patent/US4770002A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D17/00—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces
    • F25D17/04—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection
    • F25D17/06—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection by forced circulation
    • F25D17/067—Evaporator fan units
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60H—ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES
    • B60H1/00—Heating, cooling or ventilating [HVAC] devices
    • B60H1/32—Cooling devices
    • B60H1/3204—Cooling devices using compression
    • B60H1/3226—Self-contained devices, i.e. including own drive motor
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D19/00—Arrangement or mounting of refrigeration units with respect to devices or objects to be refrigerated, e.g. infrared detectors
    • F25D19/003—Arrangement or mounting of refrigeration units with respect to devices or objects to be refrigerated, e.g. infrared detectors with respect to movable containers

Definitions

  • the invention relates to transport refrigeration systems, such as the refrigeration systems used to condition frozen and perishable loads in the cargo spaces of trucks and trailers.
  • the evaporator and condenser sections of transport refrigeration systems each require air delivery or air mover means in the form of blowers and/or fans for moving air across the finned tubes which make up the evaporator and condenser sections. It is conventional to drive the blowers and fans directly from the prime mover which drives the refrigerant compressor, which may be a dedicated internal combustion engine, such as a Diesel engine; or indirectly by electric motors which are powered by alternators driven by the prime mover. The fans and motors consume a significant percentage of the power available from the prime mover.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a transport refrigeration system which may be constructed according to the teachings of the invention
  • FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the upper portion of the transport refrigeration system shown in FIG. 1, showing the side opposite to that shown in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of the transport refrigeration system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, with the evaporator blower assembly modified according to the teachings of the invention to split the assembly into two blower sections; and
  • FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the evaporator blower assembly shown in FIG. 3, illustrating an electric clutch which may be used in the evaporator blower assembly shown in FIG. 3, for selectively coupling one of two evaporator blower sections to a driven shaft.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 of the present application are similar to FIGS. 5 and 9, respectively, of the incorporated patent, and these Figures will be described only to the extent necessary to illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
  • the reference numerals of the incorporated patent will be used where applicable.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view, with some parts not shown or broken away, of a transport refrigeration system 8 suitable for mounting on the front wall 10 of a trailer.
  • FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the upper rear portion of transport refrigeration system 8, i.e., the side which is disposed immediately adjacent to wall 10.
  • Transport refrigeration system 8 includes a metallic frame 11 which supports a power pack 13 on the frame base.
  • Power pack 13 includes a refrigerant compressor 54 and a prime mover 56.
  • the prime mover 56 may be an internal combustion engine, with or without auxiliary electric motor drive capability, as desired.
  • the upper portion of frame 11 includes an evaporator section 50 and a condenser section 52, laterally separated by a channel 62.
  • the evaporator section 50 includes evaporator coils 64, and an evaporator plenum 58 which contains an evaporator blower assembly 59.
  • Evaporator blower assembly 59 includes a double width, double inlet centrifugal evaporator blower 72 mounted on a shaft 70 driven by the prime mover 56 via pulleys 76 and 78, and a belt 86 which is tensioned by a belt tensioner assembly 80.
  • blower shaft drive components are disposed in channel 62, with one end of shaft 70 extending into the evaporator plenum 58 via a bearing and support assembly 68 mounted on a relatively thick, thermally insulated wall 44 of plenum 58.
  • a blower housing 102 directs return air from the trailer, indicated by arrows 103 in FIG. 2, which return air enters a duct created by back plate 106 and passes through the finned tubes of evaporator 64, into the axial ends of the double width, double inlet centrifugal blower 72. The air exits from the periphery of blower 72 and is directed into the served or conditioned space of the associated trailer via blower outlet opening 104.
  • the remaining end of the driven shaft 70 supports a condenser blower 74 disposed in channel 62.
  • Condenser blower 74 draws outside air, indicated by arrow 105, through the condenser section 52 and exhausts the air back to the outside via openings in the casing (not shown) of transportation refrigeration system 8.
  • the condenser section 52 includes a condenser 66 having finned tubes, and an engine radiator 96.
  • the present invention enables the volume of air delivered by the evaporator blower assembly 59 to be selectively adjusted without requiring the speed of the prime mover 56 to be changed, enabling the speed of the prime mover 56 to be selected for optimum compressor capacity.
  • the invention further enables the volume of air delivered by the evaporator blower assembly 59 to be adjusted without changing the air volume delivered by the condenser blower 74 mounted on the common shaft 70.
  • the invention recognizes that a frozen load does not require as large a volume of air to be delivered by the evaporator blower assembly 59 as is required by a non-frozen load, and that a lower air flow volume would significantly increase the cooling capacity of the system for frozen load applications.
  • the invention also recognizes that trailers which have the cargo space divided into two or more compartments for the purpose of maintaining different temperatures in the compartments, does not require as large a volume of air flow when only part of the trailer contains cargo.
  • the broad concept of the invention is to control the volume of air delivered by the evaporator blower assembly 59 based upon need, i.e., the requirements of the served space, with the reduction of air volume translating into fuel savings and additional prime mover capacity for driving the refrigerant compressor 54 and alternator (not shown).
  • FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of transport refrigeration system 8, illustrating the evaporator blower assembly 59.
  • the double width evaporator blower 72 of assembly 59 is divided or "split" into two independent blower sections, providing first and second blowers 110 and 112, respectively.
  • One of the first and second independent blowers 110 and 112 is fixed to drive shaft 70, and the other is journaled for independent rotation via bearings 113.
  • the blower which is journaled for independent rotation is selectively lockable to the driven shaft 70 by clutch means 114, which in turn is controlled according to "need" by refrigeration control 116.
  • blower 110 which is the farthest from the bearing and support assembly 68, i.e., blower 110, is fixed to driven shaft 70, enabling the bearings 113 and clutch means 114 to be mounted closer to bearing and support assembly 68 to reduce the overhung load.
  • FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view of evaporator blower assembly 59, including clutch means 114 shown in FIG. 3, illustrating a preferred split evaporative blower assembly and electric clutch arrangement.
  • a blower mounting hub 118 is fixed to blower 110 via a washer 119 and screws 121.
  • Hub 118 includes a flange 120 which receive screws 121, and an elongated sleeve or tubular member 122 which is mounted on and keyed to shaft 70 adjacent to end 124.
  • Tubular member 122 is locked in position on shaft 70 by a split locking collar 126.
  • Flange 120 may be fixed to tubular member 122 by a plurality of fasteners, such as rivet 128, or it may be integral therewith, as desired.
  • a washer-like metallic plate 130 which functions as the armature of electric clutch 114, is fixed to flange 120 via a plurality of symmetrically arranged flat springs, such as three springs, with two springs 132 and 134 appearing in the cross sectional view of FIG. 4.
  • the rivets 128 which connect flange 120 to tubular member 122 may anchor one end of each flat spring, and rivets, such as rivet 136, may attach the other ends of the springs to armature plate 130.
  • Blower 112 is journaled for rotation about shaft 70 via a rotor assembly 138, with blower 112 being attached to rotor assembly 138 via a washer 140 and screws 142.
  • Rotor assembly 138 includes a clutch rotor 144 which is mounted on tubular member 122 via a bearing 146, and a mounting flange 148 which is fixed to the periphery of clutch rotor 144, with mounting flange 148 receiving screws 142.
  • a small air gap 150 is provided between armature plate 130 and clutch rotor 144.
  • a clutch coil assembly 152 is mounted on tubular member 122 via a bearing 154.
  • Clutch coil assembly 152 includes an electric coil 156 which extends into an annular cavity 158 in clutch rotor 144, with a small clearance between coil 156 and rotor 144.
  • Coil 156 includes electrical leads 160, which may be brought out of the blower assembly 59 along an anti-rotation strap 162 fixed to clutch coil assembly 152.
  • coil 156 When coil 156 is energized by control 116 it creates a magnetic field in clutch rotor 144, forming an electromagnet which attracts armature plate 130, locking blower 112 to driven shaft 70.
  • coil 156 When the air volume delivered by both blowers 110 and 112 is not required by the transport refrigeration system 8, such as when a frozen load is in the trailer cargo space, or in a compartmentalized trailer, coil 156 is deenergized by control 116.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)
  • Air-Conditioning For Vehicles (AREA)
  • Structures Of Non-Positive Displacement Pumps (AREA)
US07/095,380 1987-09-08 1987-09-08 Transport refrigeration system Expired - Fee Related US4770002A (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US07/095,380 US4770002A (en) 1987-09-08 1987-09-08 Transport refrigeration system
GB8820691A GB2209590B (en) 1987-09-08 1988-09-01 Transport refrigeration system
IT8841664A IT1225411B (it) 1987-09-08 1988-09-07 Impianto di refrigerazione da trasporto.
FR8811702A FR2620204A1 (fr) 1987-09-08 1988-09-07 Systeme de refrigeration pour le transport

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US07/095,380 US4770002A (en) 1987-09-08 1987-09-08 Transport refrigeration system

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US4770002A true US4770002A (en) 1988-09-13

Family

ID=22251690

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US07/095,380 Expired - Fee Related US4770002A (en) 1987-09-08 1987-09-08 Transport refrigeration system

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US4770002A (it)
FR (1) FR2620204A1 (it)
GB (1) GB2209590B (it)
IT (1) IT1225411B (it)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0343834A2 (en) * 1988-05-23 1989-11-29 Thermo King Corporation Zero cube transport refrigeration unit for straight trucks
US4922727A (en) * 1989-09-01 1990-05-08 Thermo King Corporation Air delivery system for a transport refrigeration unit
US5046326A (en) * 1990-10-24 1991-09-10 Thermo King Corporation Transport refrigeration system
US5252874A (en) * 1992-11-20 1993-10-12 Thermo King Corporation Electromagnetic clutch with torque isolation for return springs
US5454695A (en) * 1994-07-05 1995-10-03 Ford Motor Company High output engine cooling fan
US5660046A (en) * 1993-10-12 1997-08-26 Fridev Refrigeration Systems Inc. Cryogenic temperature control system
WO2007000291A1 (de) * 2005-06-27 2007-01-04 Behr Gmbh & Co. Kg Klimagerät
US20150165864A1 (en) * 2012-06-19 2015-06-18 Thermo King Corporation Transportation refrigeration bulkhead
US10408523B2 (en) 2011-12-20 2019-09-10 Carrier Corporation Component mounting in an integrated refrigerated container
US12130067B2 (en) 2022-08-16 2024-10-29 Carrier Corporation Transport refrigeration system with counter-rotating fan assembly

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1467537A (en) * 1921-03-31 1923-09-11 Firm Dornier Metallbauten Gmbh Air propeller
US1771654A (en) * 1929-06-14 1930-07-29 James R Powell Aircraft propeller
US3059447A (en) * 1959-12-31 1962-10-23 Chrysler Corp Air conditioning structure
US3512373A (en) * 1968-07-12 1970-05-19 Transicold Corp Refrigeration system with electric auxiliary prime mover
US3771319A (en) * 1971-09-30 1973-11-13 Whirlpool Co Unitary drive for ice maker mechanism, defrost means and air flow means
US4365930A (en) * 1980-03-31 1982-12-28 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Electric fan
US4551986A (en) * 1984-10-17 1985-11-12 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Transport refrigeration unit

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1467537A (en) * 1921-03-31 1923-09-11 Firm Dornier Metallbauten Gmbh Air propeller
US1771654A (en) * 1929-06-14 1930-07-29 James R Powell Aircraft propeller
US3059447A (en) * 1959-12-31 1962-10-23 Chrysler Corp Air conditioning structure
US3512373A (en) * 1968-07-12 1970-05-19 Transicold Corp Refrigeration system with electric auxiliary prime mover
US3771319A (en) * 1971-09-30 1973-11-13 Whirlpool Co Unitary drive for ice maker mechanism, defrost means and air flow means
US4365930A (en) * 1980-03-31 1982-12-28 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Electric fan
US4551986A (en) * 1984-10-17 1985-11-12 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Transport refrigeration unit

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0343834A2 (en) * 1988-05-23 1989-11-29 Thermo King Corporation Zero cube transport refrigeration unit for straight trucks
EP0343834A3 (en) * 1988-05-23 1990-12-05 Thermo King Corporation Zero cube transport refrigeration unit for straight trucks
US4922727A (en) * 1989-09-01 1990-05-08 Thermo King Corporation Air delivery system for a transport refrigeration unit
US5046326A (en) * 1990-10-24 1991-09-10 Thermo King Corporation Transport refrigeration system
US5252874A (en) * 1992-11-20 1993-10-12 Thermo King Corporation Electromagnetic clutch with torque isolation for return springs
US5660046A (en) * 1993-10-12 1997-08-26 Fridev Refrigeration Systems Inc. Cryogenic temperature control system
US5454695A (en) * 1994-07-05 1995-10-03 Ford Motor Company High output engine cooling fan
WO2007000291A1 (de) * 2005-06-27 2007-01-04 Behr Gmbh & Co. Kg Klimagerät
US20100251749A1 (en) * 2005-06-27 2010-10-07 Behr Gmbh & Co. Kg Air conditioning unit
US10408523B2 (en) 2011-12-20 2019-09-10 Carrier Corporation Component mounting in an integrated refrigerated container
US20150165864A1 (en) * 2012-06-19 2015-06-18 Thermo King Corporation Transportation refrigeration bulkhead
US9994084B2 (en) * 2012-06-19 2018-06-12 Thermo King Corporation Transportation refrigeration bulkhead
US12130067B2 (en) 2022-08-16 2024-10-29 Carrier Corporation Transport refrigeration system with counter-rotating fan assembly

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2620204A1 (fr) 1989-03-10
GB2209590A (en) 1989-05-17
GB2209590B (en) 1991-07-17
IT8841664A0 (it) 1988-09-07
GB8820691D0 (en) 1988-10-05
IT1225411B (it) 1990-11-13

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: THERMO KING CORPORATION, MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55420 A C

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNORS:VIEGAS, HERMAN H.;HAVEMANN, ROBERT K.;MC CLELLAN, BRUCE E.;REEL/FRAME:004763/0322

Effective date: 19870828

Owner name: THERMO KING CORPORATION,MINNESOTA

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:VIEGAS, HERMAN H.;HAVEMANN, ROBERT K.;MC CLELLAN, BRUCE E.;REEL/FRAME:004763/0322

Effective date: 19870828

REMI Maintenance fee reminder mailed
LAPS Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees
FP Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee

Effective date: 19920913

FP Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee

Effective date: 19920913

STCH Information on status: patent discontinuation

Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362